Photo: steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of reasons to feel good about themselves heading into Sunday’s rematch with the Cleveland Browns. They’ve won three consecutive games, improved to 5-2, and appear to be finding some consistency on both sides of the football. However, there’s one opponent responsible for their most recent loss, and that team will be visiting Acrisure Stadium this weekend.
Cleveland handed Pittsburgh a frustrating defeat earlier this month, and while the Steelers have made considerable progress since then, the Browns aren’t exactly standing still either. Both teams have demonstrated an ability to win close games, which makes Sunday’s AFC North showdown particularly interesting. Early lines, such as those found on Dexsport, have the Steelers as an early (and standard) three-point favorite. However, like most of the Steelers recent matchups, the oddsmakers see this as a low-scoring affair with the over/under set at 39.5 points.
With first place in the division at stake, Pittsburgh has an opportunity to avenge its earlier loss while proving that the improvements we’ve seen over the last three weeks can carry over against a familiar opponent.
So, what needs to change this time around? There are several areas where the Steelers can improve their chances of coming away with a different result.
One of Pittsburgh’s biggest problems this season hasn’t necessarily been moving the football. It’s been turning those opportunities into points, something that was evident again during Sunday’s 16-10 victory over New Orleans.
The Steelers found ways to sustain drives and create favorable situations, but the scoreboard didn’t always reflect the opportunities they had. Against a Cleveland team that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to win close games, leaving points on the field could prove costly.
Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio expects Cleveland’s defense to present many of the same challenges it did during the first meeting. The Browns feature an aggressive defensive front, linebackers who attack downhill, and a secondary that isn’t afraid to challenge receivers with physical coverage. Angelichio also pointed to Cleveland’s effectiveness in the red zone, an area where Pittsburgh can’t afford to become predictable or waste opportunities.
The Steelers have improved their ability to convert short-yardage situations, particularly when running the football with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. That success needs to translate into more productive drives, especially when Pittsburgh gets into scoring position. Moving the chains is encouraging, but the Steelers need to make sure they’re getting enough points out of those possessions to avoid another game that comes down to the final minutes.
Wednesday, we discussed how Pittsburgh’s offensive and defensive lines have become increasingly important to the team’s recent success. That improvement will face another significant test against Cleveland, which has the personnel and defensive philosophy to make life difficult for opposing offenses.
Angelichio expects the Browns to remain aggressive, using their linebackers and safety Grant Delpit to attack the running game while challenging Pittsburgh’s receivers with press coverage.
The Steelers have some additional options this time around, including the continued development of their heavier offensive packages featuring Spencer Anderson and Darnell Washington. Those formations give Pittsburgh more flexibility in the running game without completely eliminating the possibility of throwing the football. With Warren playing well and Dowdle looking healthier, the Steelers should have opportunities to establish balance rather than asking Aaron Rodgers to carry the offense through the air.
Defensively, the challenge is just as important. Coordinator Patrick Graham has emphasized stopping the run throughout the season, and Pittsburgh’s improvement in that department has been noticeable over the last several weeks. However, Graham knows Cleveland will continue to challenge his defense physically, regardless of how the game unfolds. The Steelers can’t allow the Browns to establish a rushing attack that keeps their offense in manageable situations and wears down Pittsburgh’s defense as the game progresses.
One area that continues to deserve attention is Pittsburgh’s ability to avoid unnecessary mistakes. The Steelers have survived several close games during their winning streak, but that doesn’t mean they’ve played mistake-free football. Penalties, missed opportunities, and occasional breakdowns have made some of those victories more difficult than they needed to be, and those problems could become magnified against a divisional opponent.
Angelichio addressed one example from the Saints game when Brandon Smith committed a 15-yard personal foul following an important first down. While the offensive coordinator praised Smith’s competitiveness and subsequent contributions, he acknowledged that the penalty was unnecessary.
It’s the type of mistake Pittsburgh needs to eliminate, particularly against a Browns defense that already makes sustaining drives difficult enough without additional setbacks.
Special teams also remain an area where the Steelers could use more consistent production. McCarthy acknowledged Monday that the team needs more contributions from that phase of the game, while coordinator Danny Crossman discussed the ongoing work to improve the return units. Field position can become especially important in divisional games where points are difficult to come by, and Pittsburgh can’t afford to give Cleveland additional advantages through penalties or poor execution.
Perhaps the biggest emphasis heading into Sunday comes from Graham, who made it clear that finishing will be a major point of discussion with his defense this week. The coordinator specifically referenced Cleveland’s willingness to fight until the final whistle, regardless of the score or circumstances. That’s something the Steelers have experienced firsthand, and Graham wants his players prepared for another physical, competitive matchup.
McCarthy believes Pittsburgh’s recent close victories have helped build confidence in those situations. Rather than viewing every tight finish as a negative, the head coach sees value in players gaining experience executing under pressure.
The Steelers have certainly demonstrated that ability during their current winning streak, but there’s a difference between finding a way to survive and taking control of a game when the opportunity is there. That may ultimately determine Sunday’s outcome.
Pittsburgh doesn’t need to completely reinvent its approach to beat Cleveland, especially with the improvements we’ve seen along both lines of scrimmage and within the running game. However, the Steelers do need to turn promising drives into points, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and maintain their defensive discipline against an opponent that has already shown it can take advantage of their shortcomings.
The Browns won the first meeting, but the Steelers have an opportunity to make sure the rematch tells a different story. A fourth consecutive victory would move Pittsburgh to 6-2 and provide another important divisional win. More importantly, it would demonstrate that the progress McCarthy and his coaching staff have been emphasizing is translating into results against the opponents that matter most.
